Audit Shows Hawaii Mismanaged Civil Asset Forfeiture Program

Last week, Hawaii’s state auditor released a report outlining systematic mismanagement of the state’s civil asset forfeiture program between 2005 and 2017. The audit revealed that the Office of the Attorney General, which oversees the program, improperly managed funds, did not correctly account for seized property, and did not allocate $2 million required to go […]

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Ricardo Gonzalez of North Miami-Dade, Florida Arrested for DUI Manslaughter

Ricardo Gonzalez of North Miami-Dade, Florida turned himself in on June 13 for his alleged involvement in a hit-and-run crash that killed Hilda Garcia. Gonzalez, 25, faces charges of vehicular homicide, DUI manslaughter, attempting to tamper with physical evidence, and leaving the scene of a crash involving death. He was booked into the Turner Guilford […]

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New Hampshire State Troopers Seize $46,000 From Man’s Car

In 2016, police in New Hampshire stopped a car for speeding and tailgating. They seized the $46,000 in cash they discovered inside. More than 18 months after it was taken, a man claiming to be the rightful owner of the money is petitioning to have it returned to him. On October 3, 2016, state troopers […]

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Last week, Hawaii’s state auditor released a report outlining systematic mismanagement of the state’s civil asset forfeiture program between 2005 and 2017. The audit revealed that the Office of the Attorney General, which oversees the program, improperly managed funds, did not correctly account for seized property, and did not allocate $2 million required to go to drug prevention.

As State Auditor Les Kondo explained, “With the bar to seize and forfeit private property in Hawaii so low, the department must manage the program with a heightened degree of transparency and accountability. … We found that not to be the case.”
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Alexander Todd Turin of Hallandale Beach, Florida was arrested on June 14 after investigators linked his home address to the internet address of someone who downloaded over 1,000 images and videos of children being sexually exploited.

Turin, 29, is charged with 10 counts of possession of obscene materials and 2 counts of obscene communication. He is being held in Broward’s main jail. His bond was set at $551,000. News sources did not say if he has acquired an attorney.

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Ricardo Gonzalez of North Miami-Dade, Florida turned himself in on June 13 for his alleged involvement in a hit-and-run crash that killed Hilda Garcia.

Gonzalez, 25, faces charges of vehicular homicide, DUI manslaughter, attempting to tamper with physical evidence, and leaving the scene of a crash involving death. He was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. It is unclear if he has acquired an attorney.

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In 2016, police in New Hampshire stopped a car for speeding and tailgating. They seized the $46,000 in cash they discovered inside. More than 18 months after it was taken, a man claiming to be the rightful owner of the money is petitioning to have it returned to him.

On October 3, 2016, state troopers pulled over a red Hyundai registered in Massachusetts. The police report stated that the driver, Alexander Temple, had shaking hands and looked nervous. Temple gave permission for the trooper to examine his car. In the trunk, the officer found the $46,000 in 20-dollar bills neatly wrapped up inside a Whole Foods bag.
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In 2017, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol seized $58,000 from an Ohio man. They have not returned the money, nor have they charged him with a crime.

Rustem Kazazi and his family are originally from Albania in southern Europe, where Rustem worked as a police officer. In 2005, the Kazazis moved to the U.S. when they were awarded visas through the State Department lottery program. They settled in Cleveland, Ohio. In 2010, the family became naturalized U.S. citizens.
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